Reaffirming its resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989, by which
it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its
resolution 3318 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974, by which it proclaimed
the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency
and Armed Conflict,

Recalling that the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949
1/ and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977, 2/ as well as
article 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, accord
children special protection and treatment,

Recalling also the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection
and Development of Children 3/ and the Plan of Action for Implementing
the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development
of Children in the 1990s, 3/ adopted by the World Summit for Children
in New York in September 1990, and stressing the necessity of
implementing their provisions,

Noting the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
on the elaboration of a preliminary draft optional protocol to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the involvement
of children in armed conflicts, 4/

Taking note of the report of the Committee on the Rights
of the Child on its fifth session, 5/ held in Geneva from 10 to
28 January 1994,

Mindful of the strong support of the World Conference on
Human Rights, held at Vienna in June 1993, for a proposed study,
as reflected in paragraph 50 of section II of the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action, 7/

Profoundly concerned about the continuing deterioration
in the situation of children in many parts of the world as a result
of armed conflicts, and convinced that immediate action is called
for,

Convinced that children affected by armed conflicts require
the special protection of the international community and that
there is a need for all States to work towards the alleviation
of their plight,

Recognizing the valuable work done in this field by United
Nations bodies and organizations, as well as other relevant intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations,

Recalling its resolution 48/157 of 20 December 1993,

1. Expresses grave concern about the tragic situation of
children in many parts of the world as a result of armed conflicts;

2. Calls upon States fully to respect the dispositions
contained in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the
Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977, as well as those in the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, which accord children affectated
by armed conflicts special protection and treatment;

3. Recognizes that children in situations of armed conflict
and in the immediate aftermath of armed conflict have the right
to adequate nutrition, proper medical care and shelter;

4. Also recognizes the right of expectant mothers to the
same care and protection, under similar circumstances;

5. Requests Member States and United Nations agencies,
within the scope of their respective mandates, to undertake appropriate
measures to facilitate the extension of humanitarian assistance
and relief and humanitarian access to children in situations of
armed conflict and the immediate aftermath of such conflict;

6. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General of 20
September 1994 on concrete measures taken to alleviate the situation
of children in armed conflicts; 8/

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the concrete
measures which have been taken to alleviate the situation of children
in armed conflicts, based on the information to be provided by
Member States and United Nations bodies and organizations, as
well as by other relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations;

8. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Committee
on the Rights of the Child on its fifth session and the recommendations
contained therein concerning the situation of children affected
by armed conflicts; 9/

9. Welcomes the appointment of an expert to undertake a
comprehensive study of this question, with the mandate established
by the General Assembly in resolution 48/157;

10. Takes note of the progress report of the Secretary-General
of 4 November 1994 on the work of the above-mentioned expert;
10/

11. Notes that support is provided to the expert jointly
by the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat and the United
Nations Children's Fund;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Centre
for Human Rights is provided, within existing resources, with
the staff and other resources it requires to assist the expert
in the effective discharge of her mandate;

13. Requests Member States and United Nations bodies and
organizations, as well as other relevant intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, including the Committee on the
Rights of the Child, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World
Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red
Cross, to contribute to the study referred to in paragraph 9 of
the present resolution;

14. Invites the Commission on Human Rights to consider
the study at its fifty-first session;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on
the study to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session;

16. Decides to consider this question at its fiftieth session
under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the
rights of children".

94th plenary meeting
23 December 1994

1/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973.

2/ Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513.

3/ See A/45/625, annex.

4/ E/CN.4/1994/91, annex.

5/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 41 (A/49/41).

6/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994,
Supplement No. 4 (E/1994/24), chap. II, sect. A.